AMTA Community College Clash
AMTA is excited to announce the 3rd Annual Community College Clash, which is an online mock trial tournament focused on outreach to community, vocational, and technical schools. We cordially invite you to join this initiative, as we firmly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the benefits of college mock trial.
We encourage current AMTA seniors, AMTA alumni, and lawyers to participate as judges, sharing their expertise and insight to enrich the learning experience for all involved. Together we hope to empower a wider range of students to develop crucial skills and knowledge while fostering a passion for legal discourse and teamwork.
The rounds will be held online and teams will consist of 4-5 members with 2 witnesses testifying for each side. Any two-year/community/vocational/technical college will be welcome to participate.
The Competition
- Teams will consist of a maximum of eight competing members (though only 4-5 participate per round), with the option of having an additional member as a Trial Technician. Two attorneys and two witnesses will compete per side. Teams that opt to include a Trial Technician can use that member only for the purposes outlined below in the eligibility rules, and not to fill speaking roles.
- Time restrictions will be allotted per attorney rather than by speeches, directs, and crosses.
- There will be one competition held on December 20-21, 2025 (two rounds on Saturday, two rounds on Sunday). Every team participates in every round - alternating Prosecution and Defense.
The Fee
- Nothing!
- Free!
- AMTA will not be charging any registration fee to any participant for this competition.
The Case
- We're going to use an abridged version of the current year AMTA case, which will be provided directly to competitors after they register for the competition.
- This is a criminal case concerning a murder. Teams will prepare both the prosecution and defense sides of the case.
The Rules
- The Rulebook for the Community College Clash are available here.
- Genreal competitor eligibility if below, along with trial technician roles.
The Teams
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Competitor Eligibility:
- A competitor is eligible to compete at the Community College Clash if and only if the competitor is currently a member of a community/vocational/technical/two-year school.
- Trial Techs Eligibility and Role:
- Anyone who is currently a member of a community/vocational/technical/two-year school may serve as a Trial Tech.
- Each team may have one non-competing member who will act as their trial technician.
- The trial technician would be responsible for document sharing and any other technological presentation during trial. The technician would also be allowed to communicate with the team during trials and breaks, but they are not a competing (speaking) team member, unless a competing member becomes sick/unavailable.
The Registration
- General Registration is available here!
- After teams submit entry forms, we'll send those teams the case!
- Judge Registration is available here.
The Location
- All trials will take place online using Zoom.
This page will be updated with more information as we get closer to the opening of registration. In the meantime, please email us with any questions.